Overview
- The Inter‑Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference opened in Islamabad under the theme “Peace, Security and Development,” inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani with delegations from over 40 countries.
- In his address, Shehbaz urged Afghanistan to act against the TTP and other militants, offering cooperation if Kabul takes decisive steps, and he noted Pakistan’s firm response to last month’s cross‑border attacks while thanking Qatar and Türkiye for facilitation.
- A suicide blast near Islamabad’s district courts killed 12 and injured dozens, and a separate bombing in Dera Ismail Khan wounded 14 security personnel, prompting a meeting between the president and prime minister that pledged continued operations against militants.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa convened a grand peace jirga at the provincial assembly with roughly 400 political, tribal and civil society participants to craft recommendations for federal authorities and security bodies.
- On the conference’s second day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed multilateralism and parliamentary diplomacy, condemned the recent attacks, and organisers indicated proceedings are expected to conclude with a joint communique.